British troops advance against desperate resistance | South African rising | Generals De Wet and Beyers head a Boer rebellion | Government well prepared for trouble

Wednesday October 28, 1914
Guardian Unlimited

On the sea flank of the Franco-Belgian front Germany strives desperately to break her way through to the cost. Report says the Kaiser has ordered his generals to take Calais no matter what the cost.

Already the cost of the effort has been terrible, and the taking promises to be long deferred. A Paris official statement issued yesterday afternoon said the enemy were held everywhere, while between Ypres and Roulers the Allied troops had made progress. The British are fighting in front of Ypres.

Berlin puts the best possible construction on events but cannot pretend to a victory, and has to content itself with announcing minor advances. Germany's dash for the coast has suffered many delays, and now seems to have failed. How heavy the enemy's losses have been is illustrated by an incident mentioned in a despatch from an "Eye-witness present with General Headquarters."

On Tuesday, October 20, a determined but unsuccessful attack was made on virtually the whole British line, and at one point where one of our brigades made a counter-attack 1,100 Germans were found dead in a trench and 40 prisoners were taken. Everywhere the British troops have fought with the most splendid courage. For five days at Ypres they held in check, although overwhelmingly outnumbered, 250,000 Germans who fought recklessly to break a way through.

On the fifth reinforcements arriving the enemy were thrown back 15 miles. Generals Christian De Wet and Beyers have begun a rebellion in the Northern Orange River Free State and the Western Transvaal. Their followers have committed several acts of outrage. The Union Government have been aware of the danger for some days, and have made preparations to deal firmly with the rebels.

In every province, says the official statement, the very great majority of the citizens are thoroughly loyal and detest the very idea of rebellion. Maritz's rising continues its career of ill-success. Near Galvinia the southward raiding party has lost 120 men, prisoners to the Union forces. Others are hiding in the bush. In the Cape Province General Botha has the situation well under control; his difficulties with the De Wet-Beyers treason may be greater, but his final success is not doubtful.

Russia expects great things from her campaign in Western Poland, so well begun with the repulse of the Germans from before Warsaw. The enemy's left flank has been pushed back far towards the frontier while their right remains near the Middle Vistula. This position would be difficult for the Army holding it in the best circumstances. It has been made dangerous by Russian enterprise.

A strong cavalry force has pushed rapidly westwards to Lodz, and from there threatens the German rear. About Radom, on their advanced right, the enemy have prepared a defensive line, but they can hardly remain in possession while danger draws near from Lodz.

On the Vistula, east of Radom, the Russians have taken 3,000 prisoners, cannon, and machine guns. The Manchester liner Manchester Commerce, bound for Canada, has been destroyed by a mine off the North Irish coast. Thirty survivors have been picked up; the captain and 13 men have been drowned. An Admiralty announcement says a German mine field has been reported in the waters where the liner was lost, and steps are being taken to deal with it.

In the meantime, navigators should follow official instructions intended to secure their safety. The Admiralty has also decided drastically to restrict traffic through the Thames estuary. Ships are ordered to remain at anchor from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and during the day to follow one narrow channel into the river or out towards the sea.
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